Longevity in a Living Urban Landscape
Bloor Islington Place | Toronto, ON
Installed July 2018
In a densely populated city like Toronto, green roofs are no longer novel — they are expected if not required. The real question for owners and design teams is no longer whether to include a green roof, but whether it will perform long term.
At Bloor Islington Place, that question has been answered with clarity. Installed in July 2018, the 4,900-square-foot LiveRoof® system continues to demonstrate how thoughtful design, biodiversity, and disciplined maintenance translate into long term sustained performance. Under the stewardship of Colliers International, the building management firm for the property, the roof’s long-term performance has been reinforced through consistent operational oversight and care. Nearly eight years later, the roof is not simply intact. It is thriving.
Summer 2019 — One year in, the roof maintained full coverage and visual continuity — no patching or erosion typical of plug-planted systems.
From Requirement to Long-Term Asset
The Bloor Islington Place green roof was mandated as part of the addition of an Urban Fresh grocery store within the three-tower, Class A, LEED Gold certified office complex anchored by Starlight Investments’ head office.
But ownership chose not to approach the roof as a compliance exercise. Instead, they requested a highly biodiverse system integrated directly into the building’s terrace amenity space — viewing it as an asset rather than requirement.
Today, the roof contributes to:
- LEED Gold certification objectives
- Stormwater management performance
- Expanded tenant amenity space
- Habitat for birds, bees, butterflies and other pollinators.
- A demonstration of commitment to environmental stewardship
When longevity is considered from the outset, performance becomes measurable years later.
No grow-in period required. The roof was mature and seamless on day one.
Designed for Diversity — Built for Resilience
Attractively trimmed in black-anodized RoofEdge® edging the roof incorporates 8” deep LiveRoof Maxx and 4-1/4” deep LiveRoof Standard modules, these soil depths support nine distinct plant mixes carefully selected to respond to varying sun exposures across the rooftop. The shaded/part-shade areas include 15 different species of plants, and the full-sun zones include 27 species.
This diversity is not just ornamental. It is strategic. Eight years after installation, the plant community remains dense and balanced. Soil remains protected. Seasonal change brings visual variation without compromising system integrity.
Longevity here is not static uniformity — it is controlled evolution.
Early years set the trajectory for longevity — stable coverage and balanced plant performance across sun and shade zones.
Maintenance That Protects Performance
Long-term success is rarely accidental.
Ginkgo Sustainability Inc., the original installer, has maintained the project since 2018 utilizing the LiveRoof® maintenance protocol. Irrigation is seasonally adjusted according to plant needs.
This proactive approach prevents problems rather than reacting to them and longevity is supported by a maintenance model that is documented and repeatable.
2020 — Dense, pre-grown vegetation functions as living mulch, reducing weeds and maintenance demands.
Amenity That Works
The terrace areas framed by the green roof are accessed from two public entry points and are regularly used by tenants and visitors. Positioned above a grocery store and adjacent to a busy fitness center, the rooftop provides outdoor gathering space within an otherwise high-density corridor.
In competitive commercial markets, outdoor amenity space adds tangible value:
- It expands usable square footage without expanding the building envelope.
- It enhances tenant experience and retention.
- It strengthens leasing appeal in Class A building environments.
The green roof at Bloor Islington Place demonstrates how required infrastructure can become functional real estate.
2023 — Living infrastructure frames usable rooftop amenity space in a dense urban setting.
Environmental Performance in Context
Urban centers face increasing pressure on stormwater systems and infrastructure and the LiveRoof® system contributes by absorbing rainfall, slowing runoff, and helping prevent pollutants from entering municipal waterways. In a city dominated by hard surfaces, that performance is not theoretical — it is necessary.
Additional long-term benefits include:
- Evapotranspirative cooling that reduces rooftop heat load
- Protection of the underlying membrane from UV exposure and thermal cycling
- Heat island mitigation
- Acoustic buffering along busy streets
- Improved air quality through adsorption and detoxification of airborne pollutants
These services persist and, in many cases, strengthen as the roof matures.
Consistent vegetative coverage supports ongoing stormwater absorption and heat mitigation.
Urban Habitat — Eight Years On
One of the defining characteristics of this project is its ecological vitality, very quickly this roof has become a functioning habitat in a neighborhood with limited green space. Pollinators are frequent visitors and songbirds appear regularly. While a few compatible volunteer plants have shown up, where appropriate, they have been allowed to remain — reinforcing ecological diversity without compromising system balance. If not, they have been discarded as weeds before they can reproduce.
2025 — A functioning habitat in a high-density corridor — pollinators and songbirds are frequent visitors.
Supported by Industry Leadership
LiveRoof Ontario Inc., the grower for this project, has been active in Ontario’s green roofing industry since 2006 and has contributed to some of the province’s most prominent installations. LiveRoof Ontario played a foundational role in developing CSA A123.24 — the Canadian wind uplift test standard for vegetated roof assemblies — now referenced in the 2025 National Building Code of Canada.
Longevity is strengthened when systems are backed by research, standards, and experience.
Nearly eight years post-installation, the roof remains dense, balanced, and structurally sound.
Longevity in Practice
Eight years after installation, Bloor Islington Place continues to deliver:
- Stable vegetative coverage
- Predictable maintenance requirements
- Environmental performance in a dense urban setting
- Expanded amenity value for tenants
- Ongoing protection of the building envelope
In a city with hundreds of green roofs, this project stands out because it demonstrates that longevity is not merely about surviving the first few seasons. It is about sustained performance — ecological, structural, and economic — well beyond installation. For owners and design teams planning future projects, the lesson is clear: When longevity is designed in from the beginning, it remains visible years later.
Not surviving — thriving. Eight years of continuous performance in an urban environment.
About This Series
This is the second installment in our ongoing series, Longevity of LiveRoof® Green Roofs, where we examine the durability, and long-term performance of LiveRoof® systems across North America.
Jodi Griffin is the Business Development Manager for LiveRoof® Global. Questions? Reach out anytime at jodi@liveroof.com
